After visiting Explore, the Royal Geographical Society Fieldwork and Expedition festival (You can read my review here) It was then I realised something. I love UK Adventure Festivals.

I could connected with more like-minded people, adventurous people in the space of a few days, then I had in the last two years. It was an opportunity for me to geek out over our favourite Adventurers, swap tips on kit, travel advice and generally have an awesome time.

I’m back in the UK in January and wanted to seek out what other events are available to network and meet new people. I was not disappointed! With events starting in January and taking us through to the Autumn, there are tons of adventure festivals just waiting for you!

EDIT: Since my original post, seven more events have been added to this article. If you have an event you would like to promote, please comment below and I will include it in this post!

2018 UK Adventure Festivals Guide

January

The latest and best adventure films from this world known festival. Splitting the films into two sections, these two eclectic programmes are not to be missed. The organisers ensure that both programmes will ignite your passion for adventure and travel, and encourage attendees to view both programmes if possible! Screenings are for over 12’s (unless with a responsible adult) and last for over three hours.Location: Various UK LocationsCost: £15.50.More info and tickets

This monthly adventure speaker evening in Buxton is a great way to get inspired. The first talk of 2018 is by Jamie Andrews, a quadruple amputee after being trapped for five nights on a storm-bound summit of a French Mountain, in which he lost his partner. Jamie’s story, recounted with honesty and passion, is nothing short of incredibleLocation: Pavilion Arts Centre, BuxtonCost: £17.50, Students £12.50. (Tickets go on sale two months before each event)More info and tickets

It’s calling itself the UK’s event dedicated to only travel experiences off the beaten track which I think maybe a bit of a stretch, but with over 100 free talks, seminars in writing, photography and film this looks to be a jam-packed weekend.Location: London OlympiaCost: £8 day, £12 Weekend, £25 if you want to see Ranulph Fiennes Speak.More info and tickets

February

Not much information available on the website, but this festival is broken down into morning, afternoon and evening sessions with films and speakers.Location: George Square Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh University.Cost: Between £10 – £14 depending on what session you want to go to.More info and tickets

Set at the Outdoor Capital of the UK, these nightly events take place at the Nevis Centre. The event also includes the Mountain Culture Awards and an Arts Programme. It brings together Athletes, Speakers, Photographers and filmmakers to talk about the outdoors. Not only that, Ben Nevis is right on your doorstep, so plenty of outdoor adventure opportunities to be had!Location: Fort WilliamCost: £3-12.50 per eveningMore info and tickets

Explore the latest bikes and special offers from the biggest and best cycling brands across all disciplines and budgets, meet special guests and experts, ride our test track and enjoy high flying action from the world’s best freestyle mountain bike riders, plus much more.Location: Excel, LondonCost: £16More info and tickets

The Telegraph has curated interactive seminars, exhibitions, meet and greets, cookery lessons and more to bring the world to life and inspire your next trip. With award winning journalists, travel experts and well-travelled celebrities as well as professional chefs, sommeliers and food bloggers in a Food & Wine Theatre for interactive cookery lessons and wine-tastings, showcasing dishes and grape varieties from across the globe.Location: Excel, LondonCost: £FREE Just need to Register.More info and tickets

March

A celebration of the mountains in winter. Workshops on Ski Touring, Avalanche Awareness and Mountain Skills. New for this year are mountain bike skills and workshops.Location: Braemar, Cairngorms National ParkCost: £0 – £90 dependent on activities, which includes ski passes, half day bike workshops and more.More info and tickets

More than 100 of the best adventure, travel and extreme sports films hand-picked from around the world. Not only that there are talks and outdoor activities, as well as the Organisers making sure the films are Family Friendly.Location: SheffieldCost: £TBCMore info and tickets

April

Bringing together an intimate group of 50 Women Adventurers for a weekend of camping, learning new skills and listening to inspiring stories. While having the space to relax through yoga, meditation or just laughing with like-minded women. A great way to meet some new friends!

May

The Cycle Touring Festival is a weekend of talks, camping, planning and all things bicycle touring. It’s the place to come for anyone planning, thinking about or dreaming of a bike trip. There will be talks, workshops, drop-in sessions, practical advice and story telling.Location: Clitheroe, LancashireCost: £80 Early Bird £40 ChildrenMore info and tickets

June

Running, climbing, art and film will all feature in a varied schedule that brings some of the UK’s biggest names in outdoor adventure to Keswick. Entries for the sporting events include 5k, 10k, 25k and 50k trail runs, a 70km sportive, two open water swims and long and short triathlons over tricky terrain.Location: Theatre by the Lake, KeswickCost: TBCMore info and tickets

Wild Night Out, is the UK’s national day of adventure. Explorers Connect are encouraging friends, families and groups to get together, to venture into the outdoors and take part in fun activities on 2018Location: AnywhereCost: Free.More info and tickets

July

A camping festival in the New Forest that explores the transformative nature of the forest. Celebrating woodland culture in all its forms, the festival included a programme of scientists, adventurers, musicians and artists.Location: Feanedock, The New Forest.Cost: Full Weekend Camping Tickets: Adult £120 Under 18 £40 Under 3 £Free (+booking fee) Can also get day tickets and 10% off of you live in the New Forest.More info and tickets

August

A week-long celebration of the Mountains and Coast of Harris. There are guided walks, outdoor activities, watersports, photography workshops, film nights and more. Whats particularly interesting about this event is that Harris is a community-owned estate, so this is an opportunity for the community to highlight the amazing island they live on and extend their holiday season.Location: Isle Of Harris, Scotland.Cost: TBCMore info and tickets

A celebration of the world’s greatest adventure travel films from the 1920s to the present day. It’s also a weekend knees-up of inspiring speakers and authors, live music and good-time outdoor action!Location: North LondonCost: £76-89More info and tickets

September

Run by the same guys as London, this is a celebration of the world’s greatest adventure travel films from the 1920s to the present day. It’s also a weekend knees-up of inspiring speakers and authors, live music and good-time outdoor action! The difference is this is camping in Scotland!Location: Inverewe, ScotlandCost: £76-89More info and tickets

Organised by Explorers Connect, this adventure festival allows you to try a range of adventure activities (including hiking, biking, kayaking, climbing, bushcraft), listen to tales of adventure from explorers and party in the woods to live music and entertainmentLocation: Sabine Hay, Peak DistrictCost: £142 +More info and tickets

A two-day weekend festival of talks, taking place at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), featuring some of the most intrepid, adventurous and inspiring personalities of our time in an enlightening programme of events with over 50 speakers.Location: Royal Geographical Society, LondonCost: £TBCMore info and tickets

This not for profit festival in the Peak District is an opportunity to be active in the day and entertained in the evening. There are free activitites onsite (including family activities) and talks, films, music and decent food! With axe throwing, morning yoga, campfire songs, woodland skills, foraging, climbing and more you will not run out of things to do!Location: Thornbridge Outdoors, Great Longstone, Peak District.Cost: Adult £60 Kids £20 Under 11 £Free (Additional costs for some activities over the weekend)More info and tickets

October

Women’s Adventure Expo is a social enterprise celebrating, inspiring and empowering women in adventure and exploration. WAExpo is a conference style event with parallel sessions of mainstage talks, small group workshops, interesting exhibitors, and plenty of networking.Location: Bristol City CentreCost: £46More Info and tickets

This is one of the most intimate of the Adventure Festivals, and all the more special for it. Perfect for people not just looking for adventure, but those looking to create a more positive planet. This family-friendly festival is full of workshops, talks, dancing and good vibes.Location: Field near LondonCost: £120 – £165More info and tickets

Explore is the Society’s annual fieldwork and expedition planning weekend at the Society’s headquarters in London. With over 90 leading field scientists and explorers, make sure to book your place early to gain inspiration, advice and contacts for your own field research project or expedition.Read my review of the 2017 event here.Location: Royal Geographical Society, LondonCost: £90More info and tickets

I went to the first one last year, and it was great fun. It’s on the shores of Lake Windermere in the grounds of a country hall.

I spent one morning doing bushcraft, gathering food from the local woodland, cooking salmon and baking bread on open fires. In the afternoon I went pack-rafting on the lake, and on top of all that it was full of all sorts of camping and adventure-cycling kit (with a load of bikes you could try).